Woman charged with dousing baby with pepper spray

Created: 06/05/2014 4:16 PM
By: Elizabeth Reed, KOB.com

A Mesilla, New Mexico, woman who was involved in a family argument Wednesday was taken into custody and charged with child abuse after authorities said she used pepper spray on a baby boy and the child's grandmother.

According to the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office, 32-year-old Sophia Lawson was reportedly at her boyfriend's mother's house in the 2300 block of Calle Del Norte with several family members when an argument ensued between Lawson and her boyfriend’s niece.

The niece told Dona Ana County sheriff's investigators that she and Lawson fought after a verbal argument. Both parties admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the evening.

Following the physical altercation, Lawson reportedly went to her room to get a can of pepper spray, which she tried to use on the niece, but missed. The niece's mother was standing in a doorway holding a 1-year-old baby boy and reportedly told Lawson, "No, I have the baby."

Lawson then reportedly grabbed a broken broom handle and threatened two other children at the house, ages 11 and 12.

Investigators arrested Lawson, charging her with three counts of felony child abuse. She was taken to the Dona Ana County Detention Center, where she is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Lawson's 2-year-old child, who was present during the incident, was taken into protective custody.

Sophia Lawson, 32.

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